This course aims to enable the students
to perceive biological and physiological foundations of human behavior
within framework of structure, function and behavior,
in the context of the macro and micro homeostasis
of the human as a bio-psycho-social entity,
interpreting to the most extent, the evolutional and comparative implications, and
referring to developmental and plasticity processes and organism / individual and environment interactions.

Name of Lecturer(s)

Prof. Dr. Ersin Oğuz Koylu

Learning Outcomes

1

Be able to perceive the structural and functional foundations of behavior and the effects of behavior on the former in the human (being) within the framework of causality.

2

Be able to comprehend the relations and the importance of interdependence among the disciplines such as physiology, biology, psychology and neuroscience.

3

Be able to establish firmly the evolutional, species-comparable, and developmental perspectives in understanding behavior.

4

Be able to comprehend the homeostatic significance of psycho-neuro-endocrino-immune interactions by presenting the most relevant instances.

5

Be able to identify the structural basis of the nervous system with its most essential macro and micro elements, and be able to perceive the principles and mechanisms of bioelectrical and chemical communication underlying functions and behaviors.

6

Be able to comprehend the importance of causality (cause and effect relation), realize the fact that modern humans, in addition to not being the center of the universe are also limited within the capacity of their perceptions, and be able to acquire ethical awareness relevant to research and general attitudes.

Mode of Delivery

Face to Face

Prerequisites and co-requisities

None

Recommended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Interactive discussion of the aim, content, and coverage of this course emphasizing its relevance and significance for behavioral sciences.
An overview of the vital organ systems of the human body.
Examplified introduction of the uniqueness and individuality, and the regulatory control of the nervous system over all other organ systems. Elaboration of the multi-directional communication among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, and importance of this coordination for survival, maintenance, development and adaptation of the organism / individual / species via other organ sytems.
Retreival of phases of life in the human, and brief introduction of genetics, epigenetics, genotype, and phenotype.
A brief introduction of concepts such as evolution, development, and plasticity comparing various species.
Elaboration of interdependence between brain-body, brain-mind, being-environment, and structure-function-behavior using cases / states of basic bidirectional interactions.
Instruction of the nervous system macro anatomy emphasizing its essential components and facilitating its three dimensional perception.
Introduction of the micro components of the nervous system such as neurons and glia with relevance to their functions and specific features.
Comprehensive instruction of bioelectrical potentials on the basis of their vital and behavioral relevance.
Comprehensive instruction of synaptic transmission and various neurotransmitter and modulator systems with respect to their physiological and behavioral significance, and also most common psychological, neurologic and psychiatric implications.
Elaboration of macro and micro homeostasis by explaining positive and negative feedback mechanisms, stressors, stress, coping and adaptations, within framework of interactions and coordination among nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Brief introduction to autonomic nervous system, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenals, and their relevance to behavior as well as survival. Focusing the algorithm of homeostasis from the most primitive and basic reflexes to modifiable complex reflex-voluntary action patterns and even to sophisticated voluntary behaviors.
Instruction of the basics of human muscular and motor functions with relevance to behavior.
A brief and simple introduction to various approaches, methods, techniques, and paradigms for investigating the brain-behavior relations. Evoking of early awareness regarding human and experimental research ethics. A very simplified and early exposure to the terminology and concepts such as “neurophilosophy”, “neuroethics”, “neuroeconomy”, and “neuropolitics”.